Starting and running a social enterprise

Parliamentary Inquiry: Economic Self-Determination for First Nations Australians

First Nations

Reports

First Nations

This government inquiry explores how to improve economic self-determination and opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Led by the Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, the inquiry examines barriers and enablers for training, jobs, business growth, access to capital and economic leadership. It gathers evidence from experts, organisations and communities and makes recommendations to strengthen pathways for First Nations economic participation and decision-making.

How to revive a neighborhood: with imagination, beauty and art

Videos

Theaster Gates is a potter and community leader who shares how he transformed empty, run-down buildings into places where people can connect and create. In this talk, he shows how to see problems as opportunities, start with what you already have, and use art and culture to bring communities together and create positive change.

Problem Framing Canvas Workbook

Guides

This handbook helps you clearly understand the problem your social enterprise or project is trying to solve. When you understand the real problem, it is easier to find better solutions. The canvas and guide include simple tools to help you define the problem, see different types of problems, and identify practical actions you can take.

Where good ideas come from

Videos

Steven Johnson is an author who studies how new ideas are created. In this video, he explains the main ideas from his book 'Where Do Good Ideas Come From?' He shares common patterns seen in history during times when creativity and innovation were strong, and what we can learn from them.

The DIY Toolkit

Guides

Nesta is an independent charity in the United Kingdom that supports new and better ways of solving problems. They created this toolkit to help people develop, adapt, or improve ideas that create positive impact. The toolkit includes 30 simple and practical tools that are easy to use and apply in real situations.

The Field Guide to Human-Centred Design

E-books

IDEO is a global design agency that focuses on designing with people in mind. This Field Guide to Human-Centred Design explains how IDEO approaches design for social impact. It includes 57 easy-to-use design methods for beginners and experienced designers, along with real-world examples.

Impact Boom Blog and Podcast

Podcasts

Impact Boom has undertaken 100s of interviews with social entrepreneurs and change-makers from across Australia and around the world. Produced as podcasts and blogs, their platform provides an amazing range of impact insights and stories.

Wathaga: Measurement and Evaluation (M&E) platform

First Nations

Platforms

First Nations

Wathaga is an online tool made for First Nations programs and organisations. It helps teams collect, store and understand data in a safe and respectful way. Wathaga is built to protect community ownership of data and support cultural values and ethical use.

Community Services Outcomes Tree

Platforms

The Community Services Outcomes Tree is a shared framework that helps community organisations describe and measure the outcomes of their work. It provides clear language and structure so services can show how their activities lead to meaningful change for individuals, families and communities.

FRRR Community Data Tool

Other

The FRRR Community Data Tool is a free online resource that helps local community groups find reliable information about their area. By entering a location, users can quickly access population figures, socio-economic data and regional indicators to support planning, applications for grants and telling their community’s story with strong evidence.

First Nations Startups Fact Sheets - Legal Guide Australia

First Nations

Guides

First Nations

The First Nations Startups Fact Sheets are practical legal guides from HopgoodGanim Lawyers. They help Indigenous entrepreneurs understand key issues when starting and growing a business. The resource explains topics such as business structures, contracts, intellectual property, funding and risk management. It supports First Nations founders to make informed decisions and to access clear, plain language legal information.

Business Model Canvas Explained

Videos

This short, two-minute video explains the Business Model Canvas. The tool helps people plan and build business ideas for new ventures. It comes from Strategyzer’s book *Business Model Generation* and is used by entrepreneurs and organisations around the world.

Using the Business Model Canvas for Social Enterprise Design

Guides

This booklet looks beyond the Business Model Canvas as a general tool. It explains how Ingrid Burkett, an Australian social entrepreneur, adapts the Canvas for social enterprises. The booklet guides you step by step on how to use the Canvas to suit social purpose work.

Why the Lean Start-up Changes Everything

Articles

This article by entrepreneur and educator Steve Blank was published in the Harvard Business Review in 2013. It introduces the lean startup method, which focuses on testing ideas quickly, listening to customer feedback, and improving products step by step.

Social Startup Studio

Platforms

Social Startup Studio is a program run by Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne. It supports people who want to start and grow social enterprises. The website offers a wide range of practical resources to help social enterprise startups get started and develop their ideas.

Social Shifters Learning

Platforms

Social Shifters is an international charity that supports young people to become leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs. It helps them tackle social and environmental problems in new ways. Their website offers online learning, videos, and downloadable tools to support people starting social enterprises.

The Social Entrepreneur's Playbook

Books

This is a paid resource. Written by Ian C. MacMillan and James D. Thompson and published in 2013, the book provides clear, step-by-step guidance on how to start and grow a successful social enterprise, based on the authors’ experience in entrepreneurship and social innovation.

Nature positive business models

Articles

This online resource by Wedgetail brings together multiple examples of nature-positive business models being explored around the world.

People and Planet First (PPF)

Platforms

People and Planet First is a participatory verification and a global collective that’s helping accelerate the transition to an economy that puts people and the planet first.

What is a social enterprise?

Other

A social enterprise is a business that puts people and the planet first. They trade like any other business but exist specifically to make the world a better place.

Inclusive social innovation for hospitality employment

Journals

This research explores how a disability-inclusive social enterprise in hospitality can create meaningful jobs and lasting social change. Using Hotel Etico as a case study, it shows how inclusive design, strong relationships and co-creation with people with disability can transform workplaces, attitudes and employment systems.

Systemic Venture Building - How to create social ventures that can achieve transformative change

Reports

Systemic Venture Building explains how new businesses can be designed to change entire systems, not just solve isolated problems. Developed by Metabolic, this approach focuses on creating multiple, connected ventures that work together to shift industries like energy, food and materials towards long-term social and environmental impact.

Building Resilient Social Enterprises in Queensland

Reports

This report from The University of Queensland provides one of the first comprehensive studies of social enterprise growth in Queensland. It combines interviews and survey data to identify the capabilities that help social enterprises, including regional, start-up, and Indigenous enterprises, grow and succeed.

Seedkit

Platforms

Seedkit is a national project and online platform that helps social enterprises measure and share their impact. It allows organisations to track their work and results using simple dashboards and reports that can be customised to their needs.

Now we are all measuring impact

Articles

A rich introduction to the history of measurement and how different drivers have informed how we think about, and practice, impact measurement and evaluation today. Also includes some useful graphics that help distinguish different terms and approaches from each other.

Expanding Concepts of Scale

Articles

People often ask if a social enterprise can be scaled. In this blog, Gord Tulloch challenges the idea that scale only means growing bigger or reaching more people. He explains five different ways to create impact, including changing rules, beliefs, social norms, and the conditions that help people take action.

Theory of Change

Videos

A Theory of Change explains how actions lead to change. It shows the link between goals, activities, and results. This short video uses a simple example to show how the tool can help you set clear goals and map the steps needed to reach them.

Theory of Change Step by Step | Why Nonprofits Need This Framework

Videos

This video explains the Theory of Change, a tool that helps organisations plan and measure their social impact. It breaks down key parts of the model, including inputs, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impact. The video also shares practical tips for improving impact measurement and involving stakeholders in the process.

Ventures at the Helm

Guides

This report is a practical guide to impact measurement and management. It explains how enterprises can build strong impact strategies and shows that different approaches are needed at different stages of growth. Rather than using one model for everyone, it encourages flexible, stage-based impact practices.

Common Approach to Impact Measurement

Guides

This guide from Common Approach explains the basics of measuring social impact in a clear and practical way. It outlines five essential practices that form a minimum standard for impact measurement. The resource helps organisations build simple, consistent systems to track results and improve their work.

Roadmap to Social Impact - CSI

Guides

This thorough resource from Centre for Social Impact is a step by step guide to support you and your organisation through the process of outcomes measurement and evaluation.

Community Services Outcomes Tree

Platforms

The Community Services Outcomes Tree is a shared framework that helps community organisations describe and measure the outcomes of their work. It provides clear language and structure so services can show how their activities lead to meaningful change for individuals, families and communities.

Impact-led design 2.0

Articles

Impact-led design 2.0 is a way to create programs and projects that are built around the change we want to see, not just around funding or activity. It uses evidence, lived experience, co-design and systems thinking to make solutions stronger and more effective across sectors such as government, philanthropy, business and not-for-profits.

FRRR Community Data Tool

Other

The FRRR Community Data Tool is a free online resource that helps local community groups find reliable information about their area. By entering a location, users can quickly access population figures, socio-economic data and regional indicators to support planning, applications for grants and telling their community’s story with strong evidence.

Prepare for Funding: The 4 Ps

Reports

This guide by Sefa (Social Enterprise Finance Australia) helps social enterprises get ready for funding. It explains four key areas to focus on: Purpose, Plan, Profit, and Prudence. It provides practical advice to strengthen strategy, financial planning and governance so organisations can confidently approach funders and investors.

Impact Investing Hub Playbook

Guides

This self-guided Playbook supports Australia’s impact investing ecosystem. It offers practical modules on impact investing, impact measurement, and revenue diversification. Designed for investors, advisors, and organisations seeking funding, it helps users understand how impact capital works and how to prepare for investment.

The Funding Centre

Platforms

The Funding Centre is a portal providing information on grants and fundraising in Australia. It is an initiative of Our Community, a social enterprise that provides advice, tools and training for Australia’s community sector, as well as services for business and government.

Social Investment Explained

Guides

Social Investment Explained is a practical guide that helps community groups and social enterprises understand different types of investment. Produced by the Big Lottery Fund, Social Enterprise UK (SEUK) and Social Spider, it explains funding options, investment readiness, and key questions to consider when preparing to seek investment.

Social Investment Manual: An Introduction for Social Entrepreneurs

E-books

This manual provides practical advice for social entrepreneurs on working with social investors. It explains the investment landscape, how to find and approach investors and what to expect during due diligence. The guide also shares tips for building strong, long-term partnerships.

Raise finance

Platforms

This guide explains how social enterprises can raise money beyond grants and donations by involving their community and members. It focuses on using a co-operative structure to attract investment, share ownership and build long-term financial support while staying true to social purpose.

Community Investment for Australia Co-operatives

Guides

This handbook is a practical guide for communities and practitioners who want to set up a co-operative. It explains how co-operatives can meet local needs, raise funds from members, and build stronger local economies, while working within Australia’s national laws and regulations.

Riding the Tech Wave: How Charities Can Positively Engage with the Innovation Generation

Webinars

This article highlights how charities can connect with a new generation of tech founders who are becoming major donors in Australia. Drawing on the Australian Tech Giving Report, it explains how tech wealth is growing, why tech givers give differently, and how not-for-profits can adapt to engage them.

Awqaf: A 1,000-year-old blueprint for modern impact investing

Articles

This article explains 'awqaf', an ancient Islamic endowment model that funds public good, and why it might help shape modern impact investing in Australia. It describes how awqaf protect the original donation, provide ongoing community benefits, and invest ethically, offering new ways to support lasting social impact.

Driving impact 2026 Unlocking the opportunity for corporate social impact investment in the United Kingdom

Reports

This report explores how companies can use social impact investment to support charities and social enterprises while creating lasting social value. It explains what corporate social impact investment is, why uptake remains low in the UK, and what organisations can do to overcome barriers and unlock impact-first funding models.

She Gives: Growing Women's Giving in Australia

Reports

This national research report from She Gives explores how women in Australia engage in giving and philanthropy. It highlights trends, motivations, barriers, and opportunities, offering insights for organisations seeking to better understand and engage women as donors and changemakers within the impact economy.

Institute of Community Directors Australia (ICDA) - Tools and Resources

Platforms

Institute of Community Directors Australia (ICDA) provides training, courses, and practical resources to strengthen governance in the community sector. It supports not-for-profits and social enterprises with tools, technology guidance, financial information, and free learning materials to help boards and leaders manage their organisations effectively.

Financial Management and Governance Guide for Not-for-Profit (NFP) Organisations

Guides

This guide from CPA Australia supports not-for-profit organisations, including social enterprises, to manage their finances effectively. It covers financial management, governance, risk, compliance, and tax. The resource helps organisations build strong systems and make informed decisions to support long-term sustainability.

Social enterprise guide

Guides

This guide from Justice Connect helps social enterprises understand their legal responsibilities. It covers choosing a legal structure, setting up governance, meeting compliance requirements, and managing day-to-day operations. The guide supports organisations at different stages of development to make informed legal decisions.

Indigenous Governance Toolkit

First Nations

Platforms

First Nations

The AIGI Indigenous Governance Toolkit supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to build strong and culturally grounded governance. It provides practical tools, case studies, and guidance to help communities strengthen leadership, decision-making, and accountability while respecting culture, tradition and self-determination.

How to Be a Super Board Chair

Articles

This Stanford article shares nine practical strategies for strong board leadership in social enterprises. It explains how board chairs can build a positive culture, clarify roles, support executive leaders, plan for succession, recruit the right members, and address underperformance to create a respectful and effective board.

The Governance of Social Enterprises', Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship

Guides

This guidebook, made by and for social entrepreneurs, covers building effective boards to balance social mission with financial goals. It includes advice on governance structures, board composition, recruitment, roles, and managing conflicts, highlighting how governance needs evolve as social enterprises grow.

Intellectual Property Australia (IP Australia)

Platforms

Protecting intellectual property is essential for social enterprises. IP Australia offers info on patents, trademarks, and more, including registration support.

#BeyondtheRules - Balanced governance and ‘behaving well’ everywhere, every day

Articles

This article explores the idea of “balanced governance” and why good behaviour in organisations is about more than just following rules. It encourages leaders to think beyond compliance and focus on values, culture, and everyday actions that shape how organisations behave and make decisions.

Support for businesses in Australia

Platforms

This Australian Government website offers essential legal and governance info, covering business laws, risk management, health and safety, plus tools and templates.

Australian Copyright Council (ACC)

Platforms

The ACC is a non-profit legal service offering resources on copyright law, with guides and fact sheets for creators, including social enterprises.

Legal Structures for Social Enterprises – a nationwide conversation on law reform

Articles

This article outlines a national conversation led by the Australian Law Reform Commission on legal structures for social enterprises. It explores whether current laws support purpose-driven business models and invites input on how legal reform could better enable social enterprises to grow and deliver impact.

Australian Tax Office (ATO)

Platforms

The ATO offers essential tax and super info for businesses, including social enterprises, covering worker status, payments, and related obligations.

SafeWork Australia

SafeWork Australia offers resources for workplace health and safety, including psychosocial safety. Black Dog Institute supports mental health with free NSW training. Local SafeWork bodies, like SafeWork NSW, also provide helpful resources.

Nature on the board - an open source guide

Guides

This guide shares, in plain English, how Faith in Nature recognised the legal Rights of Nature within its organisational structures. Based in the UK, It sets out how they went about it and the changes made to their ‘Articles of Association’.

First Nations Governance, First Nations Affairs

First Nations

Guides

First Nations

This guide explains why genuine Indigenous governance requires real decision-making authority, not just consultation with suggestions for how to embed it. It makes clear the difference between tokenistic advisory roles and legitimate power-sharing structures that respect First Nations authority over Country and culture.

Driving impact 2026 Unlocking the opportunity for corporate social impact investment in the United Kingdom

Reports

This report explores how companies can use social impact investment to support charities and social enterprises while creating lasting social value. It explains what corporate social impact investment is, why uptake remains low in the UK, and what organisations can do to overcome barriers and unlock impact-first funding models.

‘Pitching and fundraising’, Acumen Academy

Articles

The Acumen Academy offers free online courses and resources for social entrepreneurs. Their blog series on fundraising and pitching social enterprises provides valuable insights for changemakers seeking to refine their pitching skills and increase their chances of securing support and funding. 

Start Your Social Enterprise

Guides

While not specifically about pitching, this comprehensive guide serves as an excellent resource for preparing a social enterprise pitch. Use it as a valuable checklist and preparation tool, to help organise your thoughts and information in a way that resonates with investors, partners or supporters.

Your Guide to Making an Excellent Investor Pitch Deck

Articles

This short blog focuses on developing a pitch deck for ventures seeking funding. It shares practical tips, a template to structure your pitch as well as common questions. Since it’s from a conventional business perspective you’ll need to consider where your impact proposition should be included.

The Best Startup Investor Pitch Deck & How to Present to Angels & Venture Capitalist

Guides

This is a useful guide and template for creating effective investor presentations. It combines crowd-sourced input from top industry experts and the author’s personal experience. It also shares examples, practical design tips and strategies for addressing investor concerns.

‘Lights, Camera, Action: How to Craft a Compelling Pitch Video’, Indiegogo

Guides

Crafting a compelling pitch video can provide you with an excellent (and multi-use) resource. This guide shares tips for creating standout videos, different story arc models and advice for working with production agencies.

Making Embassy with Tyson Yunkaporta

First Nations

Podcasts

First Nations

Discover Tyson Yunkaporta’s concept of “making embassy,” which fosters respectful, reciprocal, and meaningful relationships between people, groups, and systems. Rooted in Indigenous cultural practices, it emphasises relationality, shared purpose, cultural respect, and adaptability. Explore how this dynamic approach creates spaces for dialogue, collaboration, and the intersection of diverse knowledge systems.

‘The future of management is teal’, Frederic Laloux

Articles

Frederic Laloux's article explores Teal organisations, a progressive management model emphasising self-management, wholeness, and purpose. It outlines organisational paradigms, highlights successful examples, and offers insights for social enterprises to balance purpose and effectiveness, even with partial adoption.

‘Brave New Work’, Aaron Dignan

Videos

This video features Aaron Dignan, author of Brave New Work, sharing insights on transforming outdated work practices.

‘Managing volunteers’, Justice Connect

Guides

This Justice Connect guide outlines the key legal obligations organisations have towards volunteers. It provides practical examples, templates, and tips to help organisations navigate crucial areas, including the legal differences between volunteers, employees, and contractors; managing volunteer relationships; ensuring volunteer safety; addressing unlawful workplace behaviour; and handling intellectual property, privacy, and record-keeping issues.

‘How To Have Challenging Conversations. Tips From Organisational Science’, Thinking About Teaching

Articles

This resource, adapted from the teaching profession, provides social enterprise leaders with strategies for navigating challenging management conversations. It highlights the ineffectiveness of "hard sell" or "soft sell" approaches in driving change and maintaining relationships. Instead, it introduces the "Open to Learning" framework, emphasising validity, respect, and commitment. Leaders are guided to approach conversations with shared decision-making and an open mindset, offering a practical tool for addressing performance issues and implementing change in dynamic work environments.

‘Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion in the Workplace: A Strategic and Actionable Guide’, Diversity Australia

Guides

This Diversity Australia resource provides practical guidance on integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into workplaces. It explores key concepts, outlines benefits like improved culture and business outcomes, and offers strategies for fostering inclusivity. Highlighting leadership's role and the need for ongoing training, it frames DEI as both a moral and strategic imperative, emphasising that building an inclusive workplace requires sustained commitment.

‘Relationships’, The Australian Indigenous Governance Institute (AIGI)

First Nations

Guides

First Nations

This resource from the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute (AIGI) examines the significance of relationships in First Nations governance. It covers cultural, community, and environmental connections, balancing roles, building trust, and fostering effective partnerships. The guide also explores allyship, network expansion, and practical strategies for creating balanced, respectful collaborations within Indigenous communities and beyond.

Managing the Managers: Nine Tips to Help Social Enterprises Build Outstanding Management Teams

Articles

This article shares practical tips for managing a social enterprise effectively. It covers leadership, financial discipline, team management, and staying focused on mission while running a sustainable business. The advice is designed to help social entrepreneurs balance impact goals with strong operational performance.

Leadership in Social Enterprise - How to Manage Yourself and the Team

Reports

This report by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship supports social enterprise leaders in tackling unique challenges like balancing social impact with commercial goals, managing diverse teams, and meeting stakeholder expectations. Grounded in global insights from interviews, case studies, and surveys, and developed with input from experienced social entrepreneurs, it offers practical, stage-specific guidance. Designed as a collaborative tool, it fosters knowledge sharing and equips leaders with strategies to drive mission-driven organisations effectively.

A Beginner’s Friendly Guide On How To Conduct Market Research

Guides

This beginner-friendly guide explains how to conduct market research in a clear and practical way. It covers why market research matters, different types and methods you can use, and a simple step-by-step process to help you gather useful information before launching or improving a product or service.

Startup Secrets: Go to Market Strategies

Videos

This long-form lecture from Harvard Innovation Labs explains how to plan a strong go-to-market strategy. It outlines key steps for launching a product or service, understanding customers, and choosing the right channels. Although designed for start-ups, the framework is useful for any organisation entering a market.

Empathy Mapping Play

Guides

This guide explains how to run an Empathy Mapping exercise to better understand customers’ needs and experiences. It provides step-by-step instructions for preparing and running a session, using real customer data, and turning insights into practical actions to improve products and services.

Social Procurement Fundamentals for Social Enterprises

Videos

This video tutorial explains social procurement and why it matters. It outlines the key drivers behind social procurement, how the Social Traders marketplace operates, and what social enterprises need to prepare in order to access contracts and opportunities through this growing market.

Outcomes funds: Explained

Guides

This guide explains what an outcomes fund is and how it works. An outcomes fund brings together funding from different sources and pays organisations based on the results they achieve. The guide outlines who is involved and how these funds are set up and managed.

The Brand Pyramid

Articles

This guide explains the Brand Pyramid, a simple model for building strong brands. It outlines five stages customers move through to develop loyalty: Presence, Relevance, Performance, Advantage, and Bonding. The model highlights the importance of understanding customer perceptions and creating positive brand experiences.

The basics of customer journey mapping

Articles

Discover the basics of customer journey mapping—an end-to-end visualisation of your customers' experience. This article explains how journey mapping helps you understand customer needs, improve design processes, and boost satisfaction and loyalty. Learn its benefits, how to create a map, and use insights for better customer experiences.

‘The basics of stakeholder mapping’, Smaply

Articles

A stakeholder map captures the ecosystem surrounding a product or service from a specific perspective. This article explores what stakeholders are, the importance of stakeholder mapping, and the steps to create an effective map. It includes downloadable templates, a walkthrough video, and guidance on prioritising stakeholders, illustrating relationships, and analysing value exchanges.

Communications Strategy 101

Guides

Learn how to create an effective communications strategy with this practical fact sheet for community organisations. Covering key topics such as audience identification, crafting messages, platform selection, and evaluation, it provides a step-by-step guide with exercises and tips to help community foundations implement and refine their communications efforts.

The Story Canvas

Guides

Discover the Story Canvas—a practical tool to craft impactful, strategic stories tailored to your needs. Designed by Digital Storytellers, this downloadable canvas simplifies storytelling for nonprofits, social enterprises, and impact organisations. With step-by-step guidance and resources, it helps you create engaging stories that inspire action and advance your cause effectively.

T.E.S.T = Transformational Ethical Story Telling

Guides

Discover T.E.S.T., an anti-oppressive framework for ethical storytelling that prioritises the rights and needs of all individuals. T.E.S.T. empowers Story Holders to control their narratives while providing Story Caretakers with principles to ensure safe, ethical storytelling. Explore related resources, including guides and an ethical storytelling video, to deepen your understanding.

'Stories to save the world', Futerra

Reports

This resource explores the power of storytelling in addressing climate change - its underlying ideas can be applied to other areas of impact. It argues that while the science and technology for combating climate change exist, what's missing is the right story to motivate action.

Social media marketing made easy - video lesson and planner

Videos

This 40 minute video uses real life examples to share how to build, launch and optimise a simple social media strategy. It is a pragmatic guide for small organisations with limited resources and time-poor people wearing multiple hats.

Social media templates, Hootsuite

Articles

It’s difficult to keep up with the latest trends in social media. Hootsuite regularly updates its advice and offers many free tools for planning and posting on social media. This page pulls together 35 different templates and while they won’t all be relevant to you there are some useful ones in there.

Riding the Tech Wave: How Charities Can Positively Engage with the Innovation Generation

Webinars

This article highlights how charities can connect with a new generation of tech founders who are becoming major donors in Australia. Drawing on the Australian Tech Giving Report, it explains how tech wealth is growing, why tech givers give differently, and how not-for-profits can adapt to engage them.

She Gives: Growing Women's Giving in Australia

Reports

This national research report from She Gives explores how women in Australia engage in giving and philanthropy. It highlights trends, motivations, barriers, and opportunities, offering insights for organisations seeking to better understand and engage women as donors and changemakers within the impact economy.